In Which Order Should You Watch the “Star Wars” Movies?
Image courtesy of Comic Universe.
February 7, 2021
If you are curious about watching (or re-watch) the Star Wars saga, there are multiple ways to do so. For example, you could watch them in release order, or chronologically. But you could also watch them in the Machete Order, a fanmade viewing order of the saga that cuts out The Phantom Menace entirely. With every film available to stream on Disney+, here are the many ways you can watch the nine-film Star Wars saga.
1. Release Order
If you are watching the Star Wars saga for the first time, this is the best way to do it. You start with the original trilogy, where it all began. Then you watch the prequel trilogy, which tells the story of how Anakin Skywalker fell to the dark side and became Darth Vader. Finally, you conclude with the sequel trilogy, the most recent films that take place thirty years after the original trilogy. This is, of course, the order in which people watched the films for the first time in theaters.
The release order is as follows:
1. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
2. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
4. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
5. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
6. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
7. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
8. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
9.Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
2. Chronological Order
If this isn’t your first time watching the saga, then this is a great way of watching the films. This is the order in which I’ve been watching the films for years. You can use this order if you are a first-time viewer, but the change in quality of special effects from the prequels to the originals may be jarring. The prequels are also seen in a lower regard to the originals, and the quality of those films may be a turn-off. But for those who are familiar with Star Wars, you can’t go wrong with this tried and true method of watching the saga.
The chronological order is as follows:
1. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
3. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
4. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
5. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
6. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
7. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
8. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
9. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
3.The “Machete” Order
This is a somewhat new and very unique viewing order, with the goal of preserving the twist revealed at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. You start with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and then go back to Attack of the Clones to explore Anakin Skywalker’s backstory. This notably cuts out the first film in chronological order, The Phantom Menace, entirely (hence the “machete”). After Clones, you continue with Revenge of the Sith, then return to the originals to finish with Return of the Jedi. The machete order was created before the sequel trilogy was announced, so you can choose to watch those in this order after finishing Return of the Jedi. I don’t recommend this order for first-time viewers, but for those who have seen all the films at least once, this is an interesting way to watch them again and gives a new perspective.
The machete order is as follows:
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- (Note: The sequel trilogy is an optional watch in this order)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
To conclude, these are the three most prominent viewing orders for the Star Wars saga. To reiterate, if you are watching these movies for the first time, I think watching them in release order is best. If you have seen these movies, then I would recommend the chronological order, and if you want a new and unique way to watch the saga, then I would go with the machete order. You can stream all nine saga films, as well as the two spinoff films Rogue One and Solo, on Disney+.
